Ellis spoke about the issue at this morning's Shelby County Commission meeting in Columbiana.

Pointing to Alabama's election law under Title 17 about the sheriff "keeping peace and order at the election," Ellis said, "In my mind that is broad enough that he has the power --not the County Commission, but the sheriff -- as a matter of keeping peace and order" at polls and prohibiting firearms.

While the commission can't impose a blanket ban on weapons at polling sites, the opinion noted that buildings including schools and courthouses are already covered by laws prohibiting weapons. Additionally, polling sites on private property such as churches can impose their own bans.

"If it's privately owned, you can limit open carry," Ellis said.

Curry last week said the Alabama Sheriffs' Association is seeking clarification concerning the opinion by Strange's office. "The opinion really just restated the law and what we were trying to get is those clarifications specifically to what the sheriff could or could not do relative to this matter," Curry said on Thursday.

Some proponents of openly carrying firearms in Alabama have objected to the opinion.

"What he is saying is that private-property rights trump the right to an open poll," Pelham's Robert Kennedy, a founding member of the gun-rights group BamaCarry, said last week.

Kennedy was denied entry into a voting location at the First Baptist Church of Pelham during the June 3 primary when he tried to wear a holstered pistol on his belt.

Kennedy has cited sections of Alabama's election codes including 17-17-1, which states: "An elector must not be arrested during attendance at elections, or while going to or returning therefrom, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace or for a violation on that day of any of the provisions of the election law."

He also noted Alabama Constitution's Section 192 that states: "Electors shall in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections, or while going to or returning therefrom."

Without an opinion to clarify the matter, Curry said last week he will continue to prohibit guns at polling locations in Shelby County during Tuesday's election.